It's A Medicinal Tonic. It's A Cocktail Mixer. It's Both…and More!

No Matter The Dis-Ease, Food as Medcine

I wanted to share this story since it’s something that I wasn’t aware of until recently: cancer caused by asbestos exposure and because Heather Von St. James relied on her healthy diet during her treatment and recovery process. No matter what the disease or imbalance, part of the answer is always food as medicine! Here’s Heather’s story, I’m happy to help her spread awareness about safely avoiding asbestos exposure:

“During my cancer treatment and beyond I have maintained a balanced healthy diet. Eating nutrient rich greens and lean protein I was able to maintain my weight and energy to fight off infection and recover more quickly. Chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery to remove my lung all affected my ability to eat as I normally did before I was diagnosed, but I could not let the side effects take control over my life. Foods do have healing powers, and adding more fibrous options, fish, and green tea to my diet I believe helped my healing process. I do advise to consult a doctor before making serious changes to any diet to determine if such changes are beneficial for them.

Heather Von St. James

n 2005, at the age of 36, and only three months after giving birth to a beautiful daughter Lily Rose, Heather Von St. James was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure. She was exposed to asbestos from her father’s work coat that was routinely covered in the harmful fibers. After a life saving surgery that included the removal of her left lung, she made it her life’s mission to spread awareness about mesothelioma and the dangers of asbestos. She carries out her mission to be a beacon of hope for those afflicted with mesothelioma by sharing her story of faith, love and courage as a keynote speaker at conferences, through social media forums, and blogging for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance.

Education is very much the first step in dealing with asbestos issues. Asbestos is not dangerous when it is in tact, but only when it becomes friable, or the fibers are loose, and airborne is when it becomes dangerous. As with lead, the same applies. Encapsulate it, or have it removed by a licensed and bonded abatement company. Do not attempt removal of asbestos on your own. It is dangerous.

The symptoms of asbestos exposure have a long latency period and can take years to show up. It can be 30 years before any health problems arise, so it is important to know what you are dealing with. Knowing where asbestos could be in your home is key. A few examples: attic insulation, called vermiculite (it looks like gravel) also spray insulation around boilers and such, tape, drywall, floor tile and adhesive, roofing, siding. Educate yourself before your renovate. Household exposure is a growing danger with people doing their own renovations and unknowingly tearing into asbestos containing walls, etc. One can never be too careful!

If you’d like to check out more information about Heather feel free to check out her blog!

Single Post Navigation

One thought on “No Matter The Dis-Ease, Food as Medcine”

The need of the hour is to spread awareness to the mass that cancer is something that can be cured. Moreover a healthy diet, stress free life, vegetables and fruits enriched diet with complete avoidance of radiation is quite important.